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Cigarette smoking at all-time low among adults, e-cigarette use rises

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:46:20 GMT

(The Hill) - A record-low number of adults reported cigarette use in 2022, while reported usage of electronic cigarette rose among adults. Preliminary survey results from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) found that just 11 percent of American adults — or about one in nine — reported they are smokers, which is a drop from 12.5 percent reported in 2020 and 2021. The new data, which is based on based on responses from 27,000 adults, also captured an uptick of e-cigarette use among adults, from 4.5 percent who reported use in 2021 to 6 percent in 2022.Cigarette use has been declining for decades as more health information has emerged about the health risks of smoking and many places banned smoking. In 2005, about 20.9 percent of adults reported being current smokers, almost double the 2022 figure, according to the CDC. Meanwhile e-cigarette use, especially among adolescents, has been on the rise. The CDC reported last year that 2.55 million U.S. middle and high scho...

Raising Canes raising average hourly wage to $19.50

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:46:20 GMT

LOUISIANA (KLFY) -- Fast-food chain Raising Cane's is raising its average minimum hourly wage to more than $19, company co-CEO and COO AJ Kumaran told Yahoo Finance last week.It's part of a more than $9 million investment into its workforce, Kumaran explained. Part of the investment is moving all hourly managers to an $18-an-hour minimum pay, bringing the average hourly pay at the company to $19.50, according to details shared with Nexstar's KLFY. Post Malone personally designed this Raising Cane’s restaurant Raising Cane's is also offering hourly employees the chance to make an additional $2 per hour during their first year of employment and for training employees as well as an additional $1 for working past 10 p.m. or during major events, and for completing "crew certifications."Additionally, Raising Cane's is launching a program to encourage experienced employees to travel to a new city -- where they will live rent-free for three to six months -- to help launch new restaurant l...

Sunny and dry today, severe weather returns Friday

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:46:20 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Heavy rain has left Central Texas and we'll be dry the rest of the day after a good soaking overnight.24-hour rain totals as of 6AM ThursdayLeft behind will be drier skies and more sunshine with seasonable temperatures in the upper 70s to low 80s this afternoon.Yet another threat of severe weather quickly builds late Friday afternoon into Friday evening with a powerful storm again crossing over the state. Rain and storms will be likely Friday after 4 p.m. and continuing through the evening.Slight risk (2 out of 5) for severe storms on Friday for most of Central TexasOnce again, large hail and damaging winds will be the primary concerns with severe storm development on FridayNext round of severe weather looks to arrive late Friday afternoon through late eveningMake sure you download the KXAN Weather App and enable your location to receive severe weather alerts for your area.Many areas can expect 1-2" of rain through Saturday morning, with isolated higher totals of 3-...

Texas House unanimously passes marijuana decriminalization bill

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:46:20 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) – On Wednesday, the Texas House of Representatives passed a bill which would decriminalize the possession of small amounts of marijuana.In addition to marijuana, House Bill 218 also relates to the possession of certain tetrahydrocannabinols (THC), certain synthetic cannabinoids and drug paraphernalia.The bill would reclassify the possession of up to one ounce of marijuana or cannabis concentrate as a Class C misdemeanor, which is a citable offense, but it is not subject to an arrest. There could, however, be a fine of up to $500.HB 218 was approved after its second reading by members of the House, and it passed unanimously.Now that the bill has been passed by the chamber, it will be forwarded to the second house for consideration.

Ravens mock draft roundup: Cornerback and wide receiver emerge as favorites, but there are plenty of wild cards

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:46:20 GMT

Love them or hate them, NFL mock drafts arrive just the same.With the first round set to begin Thursday night in Kansas City, analysts and draft experts have released their final predictions for how the first 31 picks will shake out. (Here is The Baltimore Sun’s final mock.)For the Ravens, their options at No. 22 have emerged into three distinct categories — cornerback, wide receiver and wild card (quarterback, running back, defensive lineman, edge rusher, safety). A review of 41 recent mock drafts has Baltimore taking a cornerback in more than half (22) compared to just seven picks for wide receivers.Here’s a look at the prospects whom experts and analysts think could land in Baltimore on Thursday night. All picks are No. 22 overall, unless noted otherwise.Mississippi State cornerback Emmanuel ForbesNFL Media’s Peter Schrager: “Forbes doesn’t have an ideal frame at just 166 pounds, but holy cow does this ballhawking cover man have fans around the...

Former, current Rensselaer County employees in custody, FBI confirms

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:46:20 GMT

TROY, N.Y. (NEWS10) — The FBI confirms that Richard Crist, James Gordon, and Leslie Wallace have been taken into custody. Crist served as the Rensselaer County Communications Director and political consultant to County Executive Steve Mclaughlin. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! Gordon was the county's Director of Central Services and Wallace was a county employee and longtime political consultant. Arraignments are scheduled for 2 p.m. Thursday concerning a civil rights/voting rights investigation in Rensselaer County.“For hundreds of years, our nation has fought to live up to the keystone promise that is the franchise to vote," said Troy Mayor Patrick Madden in a statement regarding alleged disenfranchisement of voters. "Every New Yorker deserves access to the ballot, but the actions alleged in today’s indictment undermine the integrity of our electoral system—the very bedrock of our democracy. As this process bears out ove...

Cohoes man pleads guilty to drug charges

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:46:20 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- On Tuesday, Andrew O'Connor, 36, pled guilty to distributing methamphetamine in Cohoes and conspiring to tamper with records. Sentencing is scheduled for August 23. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! O'Connor admitted to distributing methamphetamine from March to June 2022. Around June 15, 2022, a shipment of over one pound of methamphetamine sent to O'Connor was intercepted by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and the FBI. In addition, O'Connor admitted that after he was arrested, he contacted a co-conspirator to have several cell phones reset and remotely wiped. O'Connor faces a minimum sentence of ten years and a maximum sentence of life in prison, and a fine of up to $10 million. O'Connor will also be required to serve a post-imprisonment term of supervised release of at least five years and up to life.

Police identify fatality in Troy-Schenectady Road crash

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:46:20 GMT

NISKAYUNA, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- Police have identified the fatality in Saturday's crash on Troy-Schenectady Road. 59-year-old Pilar Seacord of Schenectady was pronounced dead at the scene. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! The occupants of the second vehicle were transported to the Albany Medical Center for treatment. The driver and passengers of that car are still being treated at Albany Medical Center for their injuries.The crash is still under investigation at this time.

Narcan training and distribution held in Ballston Spa

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:46:20 GMT

BALLSTON SPA, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- Saratoga County is holding a free Narcan training and distribution at the Saratoga County Public Safety Building on Friday, April 28, from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. The drive-through distribution event will take place in the parking lot at 6012 County Farm Road. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! Participants will receive training on how to recognize opioid overdose and how to administer Narcan. A free Narcan rescue kit will be provided for everyone, which includes two doses of Narcan, a rescue breathing face shield, a certificate of training, a drug disposal system, and a mental health and substance use disorder resource guide.

Who's cooking at Glens Falls Wing Fest

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:46:20 GMT

GLENS FALLS, N.Y. (NEWS10) - This weekend, 16 Glens Falls restaurants will take to downtown Glen Street, and face off in a battle not unlike ritual combat for the city's culinary community. Their swords are chicken wings; their fighting spirit blazing like hot sauce. Glens Falls Wing Fest comes back to town this Saturday. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! From noon to 3 p.m. on Saturday, April 29, restaurants will be outside, serving fresh wings with rubs and sauces of all kinds to a hungry public. It's an all-out battle for wing supremacy, across four categories.Participating restaurants are competing for categories like Best Wings, Best Visitor, Best Rookie, and Best Meatless. Here's who's squaring off in downtown Glens Falls this weekend, and what they're competing for:Bullpen TavernBest WingsDavidson Brothers BrewpubBest WingsDickinson's DelightsBest WingsDowntown City TavernBest WingsDowntown SocialBest Wings[farmacy] re...